Mahershala is an American given name, famously shortened from the longer biblical name Mahershalalhashbaz. This full name appears in the Old Testament at Isaiah 8:1 as the symbolic name of a son of the prophet Isaiah. Written in Hebrew as מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז (maher shalal ḥash baz), the name comprises two parallel phrases: מַהֵר שָׁלָל (maher shalal) and חָשׁ בַּז (ḥash baz), each meaning "hurry to the plunder" or "swift to the spoil." Notable Bearer The most prominent bearer is the American actor Mahershala Ali (born Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore on February 16, 1974). Ali chose the shortened form Mahershala as his professional name. He has achieved critical and commercial success, winning two Academy Awards (for Moonlight and Green Book), a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and a Primetime Emmy. The New York Times ranked him among the 25 greatest actors of the 21st century in 2020, and Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019. Ali's rise to fame has brought widespread attention to this unusual name, which was previously rare outside of biblical studies. Cultural Significance The name Mahershala (or its full form Mahershalalhashbaz) is virtually unknown as a given name in most cultures. In the Hebrew Bible, the name was a prophetic sign: it was given to Isaiah's son to foretell the imminent plundering of Israel's enemies, the kingdoms of Aram and the northern kingdom of Israel. Atheistic or religious families intrigued by its literary and prophetic weight have occasionally adopted the shortened form or the original. Meaning: “hurry to the plunder” (from Hebrew) Origin: Biblical Hebrew, from Isaiah 8:1 Type: Given name (shortened form of Mahershalalhashbaz) Usage Regions: Primarily in the United States, though extremely rare before 2000